Gazprom, Ukraine Discuss Gas Sector Cooperation

Gazprom management met a Ukrainian official on Monday.  Bilateral cooperation in the gas sector between Russia and Kiev was addressed.

‘Particularly, the parties discussed Ukrainian gas transmission system readiness for uninterrupted transit of Russian natural gas to Europe during the upcoming winter period. In this regard, special attention was paid to the progress with gas injection into underground storage facilities by Naftogaz Ukrainy,' reads a note released by Gazprom on Monday.

Alexey Miller, Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee, met Yury Boiko, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, at a moment when Moscow is concerned about a flood of European goods entering the country if Kiev signs a free trade agreement with the EU.

Ukraine is trying to increase its economic ties with the EU, dwindling its close relations with Russia, which was its biggest trading partner till few years ago. Ukraine gave the green light to the signing of an Association Agreement with the EU in Vilnius the coming November.

“We would somehow have to stand by our market, introduce protectionist measures… We are saying this openly in advance,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month.